Europe celebrates Xmas amid security concerns

BRUSSELS — Amid the festive atmosphere in European cities adorned with lights and decorations, this Christmas season has witnessed heightened security measures.

The recent university shooting in the Czech Republic, adding to the previous shooting and stabbing incidents in Belgium and France, respectively, has exacerbated security concerns, casting a shadow over the holiday celebrations in the continent.

Meanwhile, despite repeated warnings from security agencies, many tourists vowed these concerns will not affect their holiday plans. According to the travel analytics firm ForwardKeys, intra-European travel is exceeding 2022 levels, driven by sustained post-COVID demand.

A report from the United Kingdom National Counter Terrorism Security Office, citing data from Western Europe, said that terrorist attacks do not follow a discernible seasonal pattern. However, the Christmas period presents opportunities for attacks, not simply due to bustling celebrations but also because of its religious symbolism.

Authorities in Europe are on the edge during this holiday season, given the recent rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks since the conflict in the Middle East escalated.

"With the war between Israel and Hamas and the polarization it causes in our society, with the upcoming holiday season, there is a huge risk of terrorist attacks in the European Union," the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson cautioned ahead of a meeting of EU home affairs ministers earlier this month.

Spain's Home Affairs Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, whose government holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from July to December, said, "In an especially delicate international context, the situation in the Middle East could sharpen tensions, heighten polarization and fuel terrorism."

Safety threat

Their warnings came following security incidents in the bloc, including a radical Islamist fatally stabbing a German-Filipino tourist near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on Dec 2, and the arrest of two teenagers — one of whom called for a "holy war "against the West on social media — in Cologne, Germany. They were suspected of planning an attack on a Christmas market or synagogue.

In light of Europe's history of terrorist attacks during the Christmas season, the security worries have a leg to stand on.

European security agencies have accentuated the growing risk posed by "lone wolves" — self-radicalized assailants with no formal ties to established extremist groups.

Thomas Haldenwang, president of Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, cautioned that much of the safety threat arises from the potential for radicalized individuals to attempt attacks on "soft targets".

In response to the heightened risks, the European countries have enacted various measures. EU Commissioner Johansson announced a financial boost, with the European Commission allocating an additional 30 million euros ($33 million) to enhance security in vulnerable areas, including places of worship.

Governments are intensifying the surveillance of extremists, a challenging task given the substantial number of individuals in Europe on terrorism watchlists.

German authorities, at both federal and state levels, are collaborating to identify potential threats early on while increasing police presence.

Austria on Sunday said three people were detained for suspected involvement in an "Islamist network "as police in the capital of Vienna stepped up controls to ensure Christmas security, local authorities said.

Xinhua - Agencies